Icelanders Invite Tourists Into Their Homes

Encouraging a nation-wide participation, The President of Iceland, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson has invited tourists to enjoy pancakes at his home in an effort to make tourists feel welcome in Iceland. Grimsson, will be joined by other officials including the Mayor of Reykjavik and the Minister for Tourism, who will also be inviting people into their homes.

This initiative is a part of a new tourism campaign, aimed at encouraging tourists to visit Iceland during the off-season. It is a continuation of the award-winning Inspired by Iceland campaign that turned around the country’s tourism industry following the eruption of Eyjafjallajokull in 2010.

Katrin Juliusdottir, Iceland’s Minister of Tourism, said “We want visitors to our country to become Icelanders, to ‘be Icelandic’. The ash cloud caused by the Eyjafjallajokull eruption last year made us think really hard about what coming to Iceland meant.”

Juliusdottir continued, “We realised it is about the passion that our citizens have for our country and that they want to tell the world how beautiful it is and what an amazing experience it can be. Those thinking of visiting Iceland and wanting a real adventure will love what our people have to offer as they share their lives with them.”

Icelanders have answered the call, and invitations are streaming in to www.inspiredbyiceland.com where Icelanders volunteer to open their doors to welcome visitors with open arms.